Photocopying machine



F. BLICK PHOTOCOPYIYNG MACHINE April 17, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1947 April 17, 1951 BUCK PHOTOCOPYING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 30, 1947 TNN April 17, BU

PHOTOCQPYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 17, 19-51 Flled 001; 30 1947 Patented Apr. 17, 1951 Frank Blick, Westminster, London, England, as-

signor to Ozalid Company Limited, London, England, a British company Application October 30, 1947, Serial No. 783,124 In Great Britain October 31, 1946 Claims.

The present invention comprises improvements in or relating to photo copying machines and has for object the provision of a machine for this purpose which is readily accessible for adjustment or cleaning and more satisfactory in operation than machines hitherto produced.

According to the invention there is provided a photo copying machine having a light source disposed within a transparent cylinder and having an endless belt applied to the cylinder over the greater part of its circumference so that a light sensitive sheet and sheet material to be copied may be passed between the belt and cylinder, wherein a supporting frame carrying guide rollers for the belt is formed as lower and upper parts detachably securable in the operative position.

Preferably the lower and upper supporting frame parts are hingedly secured together, the hinge conveniently being provided in a position in relation to the cylinder approximately diametrically opposed to the position at which sheet material is inserted in and/or removed from between the belt and cylinder.

According to a preferred form of the invention the belt is formed as a plurality of independent endless belts disposed side by side along the axes of the cylinder and guide rollers. In addition a pick-off device is conveniently also provided for removing sheet material from the cylinder, which device is afforded by a number of individual finger elements resiliently pressed against the cylinder.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood a preferred constructional embodiment thereof will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the preferred constructional example of a photo-copying machine;

Figure 2 is a composite longitudinal sectional view of the machine shown in Figure 1 with the left-hand end and a central portion of the machine broken away, the right-hand section being taken on the line 22 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows and the left-hand section being taken on the line 2'2' of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows with apparatus disposed within the end housings being shown in front elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3- 3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 5 is a sectional View, with some parts broken away, on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference numerals are employed to denote like parts in the various figures of the drawings.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a lower frame portion and housing mounted on a base of angle members comprising a front longitudinal it), four transverse members H respectively adjacent both the outer end walls (one of which is seen at I2) and also the inner end walls l4 and I5 respectively of the end housings l6 and I1, and further longitudinals at the rear of the end housings (one of which is seen at I3 in Figure 5 for housing I6) and an inner longitudinal l8 seen in Figure 3 between the bases so formed for the end housings I6 and IT. The upstanding end walls of the latter are flanged to be firmly secured to the transverse members II, and separately or integrallyformed sheet metal enclosures affording front, top and rear walls for the housings are also secured to such flanges, e. g., by screws I9, by welding, or by securing straps shown at 2| in Figure 2 held by screws passing through assembly of strap, panel or enclosure and flange. The enclosures are gilled as at 20 to permit ventilation of the housings. In the lefthand housing I! are located transformers 25 and equipment for the operation of a mercury vapor tube lamp 22 the lower bulb 23 of which is located within the housing I! and the upper end 24 of which is located within the housing H5. The latter housing serves to accommodate a driving mechanism described hereinafter for the actuation of the machine. The tube lamp 22 passes through flanged apertures 26 and 21 in the walls l4 and [5 respectively, the relative flanges being indicated at 28 and 29 respectively and each having the loop of a P-shaped bracket (30 and 3|) secured to the flange. The projecting and adjacent arm of the bracket are padded as by a string, cotton or fabric binding and the tube lamp 22 nested in position against the padding and secured by flexible spiral springs 32 and 33 secured to the brackets partially to embrace the lamp with oneend of the springs detachably secured to the projecting arms of the brackets. The flanged apertures 26 and 2'! are sufiiciently large to allow of assembly and dismantling of the lamp 22 which is disposed within a rotatable cylinder 34 of glass or other suitable transparent material which is disposed between the walls I4 and 3 l5 and the support for which will become apparent hereinafter.

The lower frame portion including the end housings l6 and I1 carries a front cylindrical roller and a rear cylindrical roller 36 between the inner end walls I4 and I5 of the housings. As seen from Figures 2 and 3 the roller 35 is carried on an inner cylindrical support 31 disposed on end supports 38 and 39 carried on the shafts 40 and 4! respectively which are mounted in the bearings 42 and 43 in turn mounted in the walls l5 and I4. The end supports 38 and 39 are associated with flanged friction rollers 44 and 45 adapted peripherally to engage and partially to support and drive the cylinder 34. The friction rollers 44 and 45 are conveniently of resin impregnated fibrous material, at least at the engaging surface, and are of a diameter slightly greater than that of a plurality of endless belts 46 lapped round the roller 35 and round the cylinder 34 so as almost wholly to embrace the latter and afford also a support and drive therefor. By the adjustment of diameters described, sheet material introduced between the belts 46 and cylinder 34 adjacent the roller 35 can be adjusted in position or removed during the early part of its travel round the cylinder 34.

The belts 46 passing round rolled 35 proceed from the cylindrical roller 35 suitably carried on the spindle or axle 41 also carried in bearings (not seen in the drawings) supported by the walls M and 15 to be rearwardly spaced from the bearings 43 and 42. The roller 36 is mounted for free rotation or idling during movement of the belts 46 as are a further pair of rollers 48 and 49 located above the cylinder 34 so that belts 45 from the cylinder 34 are immediately taken up by a front roller 48 disposed above roller 35 and run past to the rearward upper roller 49 and roller 36. The belts 46 thus pass round the four rollers 35, 36, 43 and 43 with a re-entrant portion passing round the cylinder 34 so that sheet material to be copied and light sensitive sheet material in contact therewith may be inserted between the belts 46 and cylinder 35 adjacent roller 35 for passage round the cylinder 34 and removal adjacent the roller 48 disposed above the roller 35 so that a field and delivery gap in the circumference of roller 34 is afforded between rollers 35 and 48.

The upper idling rollers 48 and 49 are similar to roller 36 and have spindles 5|] and 5| (Figures 2, 3 and 4) which carry end supports (or bearings) for the hollow cylindrical ro1lers (as at 52 in Figure 2) and which are carried at their ends in the case of rollers 48 and 49 by end walls 53 and 54 of an upper frame member or housing having sheet metal front, upper and rear walls 55 to which the end walls 53 and 54 are secured. The latter walls are arranged to conform in shape to the upper part of cylinder 34 from which the lower edges of the walls are spaced with the provision of an inwardly turned flange H0. The roller spindles 5G and 5| act also as spacing members for the latter walls which may also carry a spacing rod 56 at the rear of the upper casing or housing and a hollow sleeve 51 for a hinge pin 58 secured between the walls [4 and I5. The hinge pin 58 is disposed parallel to the rollers for the belts 46 and to the exterior of the loops of the belts near the lower rear roller 36, so that the belts between rollers 36 and 49 engage over the hinge sleeve 51 when the upper frame member or housing is lifted about the hinge 58 to the position 59 shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. On such movement of the upper frame member or housing the belts 46 are lifted clear of the upper surface of the cylinder 34 so as to extend upwardly from the rear of the latter to the upper forward roller 48 and thereby con tinue to afford a support for the cylinder 34. To

ensure this latter condition means to limit the extent to which the upper frame member or housing can be moved about the hinge 58 is afforded by shaping the rear wall 55 to engage a supporting ledge 50 formed with a rear enclosing wall 6| secured between the walls l4 and I5.

To maintain tension on the belts 46 when the upper frame member or housing is lifted the rear upper roller 49 has its spindle 5| carried at its ends in bearing blocks 62 mounted to be capable of a sliding movement in the slots 63 in the walls 53 and 54 and subject to pressure of springs 64. Possible movement of the bearing blocks 62 (e. g. when the upper frame member is opened and cylinder 34 removed) is restricted by the end of slot 63 while the pressure of spring 64 is adjusted by means of screws 65 passing through lugs 66 in the end walls 53 and 54 to engage a stop 61 between which and the bearing blocks 62 the springs 64 are disposed. The stop 61 is also mounted slidably to engage the edges of a slot 66 in the end walls 53 and 54.

The use of a plurality of belts 46 as described is found to produce less tendency for twisting or buckling of the sheet material passed round the cylinder 34 between the latter and the belts 45 than is the case when a single belt of large width is employed. The hinge pin 58 conveniently carries tines '69 (pins say of diameter) to locate the belts 46 against lateral movement, the tines 69 being disposed between the separate endless belts 46.

For operation of the apparatus an electric motor ID in the housing |6 drives, through a reduction gear (e. g., a worm wheel reducing drive), a housing for which is indicated at 1|, a friction disc 12 forming part of a variable speed transmission serving to secure an adjustable speed of operation and thereby to secure also a suitably adjustable exposure period for light sensitive material passed round the cylinder 34. A second friction disc 13 is disposed on an axis parallel to that of disc 12 but offset therefrom so that discs 14 and 15 on spindle 16 may be adjusted diametrically of discs 12 and 13 which whey respectively engage. Spindle I6 is mounted in a bracket carried by a pillar l8 and adjustable diametrically of discs 12 and 13 in the frame affording bearings for the latter. A spiral spring 39 round the pillar 18 engages bracket '11 to hold discs 34 and 15 in driving engagement with discs 12 and 13. Disc I3 drives a pulley 8| operating the belt drive 32 for pulley 83 on spindle 4| so that operation of roller 35 and of belts 46 and cylinder 34 is secured. The frame 80 is supported on a base framework 84 in housing H; for which an inspection cover 35 is provided. Frame 84 also affords end guides not shown in the drawings for a transverse member 86 carrying pillar l1 and having at the forward end an upstanding slotted flange 88 for engagement by a pin, carried on wheel 81 (Figure 1) capable of adjustment to one of a number of positions at which appropriate transverse adjustment of member 86 and discs 14 and I5 is secured. A pivot for wheel 81, which may bear edge indications as to its position of adjustment, is afforded by flanges 89 internally of the housing I6 which may also carry a slidably adjustable pin and operating knob therefor, not

shown, for engaging one of a number of arcuately disposed apertures in a strip carried by wheel 81 to locate the latter in a position of adjustment.

To remove sheet material passed round the cylinder 34 a pick-01f device comprises a number of resilient finger elements 90 of for example a metal comb arranged to pass on the cylinder to strip sheet material therefrom at the end of the circumferential movement of such material.

Sheet material so stripped is delivered in tray 9| carried by the assembly rod 92 for the apparatus also passing through the end housings I6 and I1. Supporting brackets 93 on end walls I4 and I5 for the tray 9| are enclosed by guide fillets 94 for the feed slot of the apparatus from which a forwardly and downwardly sloping feed table 95 extends as part of a front enclosure panel 96 disposed between walls I4 and I5. Supporting brackets 91 for the feed table are also carried by the latter walls. Beneath the feed table brackets 98 afford a support for spindle 99 which may carry a supply roll I of light sensitive material. A support IOI between walls I4 and I for the comb having finger elements 90 preferably also carries a light shield or finger guard I02 which may also be resilient and which is adjacent the feed aperture above roller 35, the adjacent delivery point being below roller 48 so that exposure over an arc of 290 of the circumference of the cylinder 34 is secured. A metal shutter strip I03, e. g., of angle form is also mounted within the cylinder adjacent the feed and delivery positions. The inwardly facing surfaces of this strip may be formed as or may carry a reflector, while the outwardly directed edges carry a wiper I04, e. g., of felt for engaging the inner surface of the cylinder 34. The wiper is mounted for ready dismantling to facilitate removal of the cylinder 34 and may for example be flexibly supported in a manner similar to that employed for the lamp 22.

Electrical equipment for operating the lamp 22 is conveniently housed in the end casing I! on a base I09, and is indicated in part at I05, while transformers I06 may also be slung from a transverse bar I01 in housing I6 between rod 92 and a rod I08 mounted between the end walls I2 and I4.

Any desired arrangement of such electrical equipment may be made, however, and other modifications of the apparatus described may. if desired, be effected. Thus the arrangement of spacing rollers for the endless bands 46 may be varied to a more regular spacing, as seen in cross section, for example to one in which four rollers are disposed at the corners of a rectangle with further rollers adjacent the cylinder 34 and defining the supply and removal positions for sheet material, so that three upper and three lower rollers'are respectively carried by the upper and lower frame members or housings.

I claim:

1. A photo-copying machine comprising a hollow transparent cylinder located with its axis substantially horizontal, a light source within the cylinder, a plurality of guide rollers rotatable about substantially horizontal axes parallel with that of the cylinder, and disposed some above and some below the axis of rotation of the cylinder, an endless band carrier mounted on the guide rollers and providing an inner loop embracing the outer surface of the cylinder and forming a floating cradle-like suspension for it, with a feed-gap at one side of the cylinder for insertion between the carrier .and the gylinder of transparency sheet to be copied and lightsensitized sheet to be exposed, combined with a hinged frame which forms a covered housing for the top of the cylinder, which supports the guide rollers disposed above the axis of the cylinder with the rollers rotatably mounted on the frame, and which has its hinge located on the opposite side of the cylinder from the feedgap, the frame together with the supported guide rollers being movable bodily as a unit about the hinge away from the cylinder to uncover substantially the whole of the upper portion thereof, and means on the frame operable automatically on movement of the frame as aforesaid to tension the endless carrier so as to maintain the floating cradle-like suspension for the cylinder when the frame is in the uncovered position.

2. A photo-copying machine according to claim 1 in which the guide rollers for the endless carrier band comprise two pairs spaced apart at the corners of a quadrangle enclosing the cylinder, the upper pair being carried by the aforesaid hinged frame, and opposed upper and lower rollers of the two pairs on one side of the cylinder being arranged to provide the feed-gap for the supply and removal of sheet material to and from the cylinder.

3. A photo-copying machine according to claim 1 combined with friction discs carried by a lower guide roller adjacent to the aforesaid feed-gap at opposite ends respectively of said roller, to assist in supporting and driving the cylinder, the friction discs being of slightly larger diameter than the overall diameter of the roller and encircling carrier band.

4. A photo-copying machine according to claim 1 in which the hinge of the hinged frame is located above a lower guide roller remote from the feed-gap and at a position outside the external path of the endless carrier band over the guide rollers, so that on uncovering movement of the hinged frame as aforesaid the band will engage the hinge, combined with means to limit the outward hinging movement of the hinged frame and to support the latter in its limited position.

5. A photo-copying machine according to claim 1 in which the means for automatically tensioning the endless band carrier comprise an arrangement in which an upper guide roller remote from the feed-gap is carried in a bearing slidably mounted in the hinged frame and subject to spring pressure to maintain tension on the endless carrier band at all positions of adjustment of the hinged frame.

FRANK BLICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 910,832 De Lukacsevics Jan. 26, 1909 976,164 Goldstein Nov. 22, 1910 1,628,436 Segrin et a1 May 10, 1927 1,804,796 Lord et a1 May 12, 1931 2,041,478 Mederle May 19, 1936 2,220,526 Kluitmann Nov. 5, 1940 2,297,573 McDonald Sept. 29, 1942 2,308,130 Von Meister et al. Jan. 12, 1943 2,320,334 Bates June 1, 1943 2,421,150 Jacobson May 27, 1947 2,431,520 Streich Nov. 25, 1947 

